Obama backs NFL's Kaepernick right to boycott anthem

President Barack Obama weighed in Monday on the controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick, saying the San Francisco 49ers quarterback was exercising his “constitutional right” to protest the US national anthem. Kaepernick has drawn fierce criticism for refusing to stand during renditions of “The Star Spangled Banner”, and was roundly booed during a match in San Diego last week in which he knelt during the song. Kaepernick has said his protest is a statement against racial injustice and police brutality.